HE RANSOMED ME

Julia Harriet Johnston (1849-1919) was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister who served First Presbyterian Church for many years in Peoria, Ill. Julia became a Sunday school teacher and for 41 years was head of the infant class in the children's department.  In addition, for twenty years, Julia was president of the Presbyterian Missionary Society of Peoria which had been founded by her mother. Also a prolific author, she produced primary Sunday school lesson material for the David C. Cook Publishing Co. She also wrote about 500 hymn texts. Today her reputation as a hymn writer rests primarily upon the hymn "Grace Greater than Our Sin."  We don't know what led her to write the words to this week's choice, but her inspiration might have been 1 Timothy 2:6, "Christ Jesus…gave Himself as a ransom for all men."  The verses of the hymn trace the glorious story from the time that we were lost in sin and sadness, to his sacrifice to ransom us, to the point where we became trophies of his grace, and finally to the time when we will eternally join the hosts in singing to Him, the King of Love.  And our response should be "Hallelujah!  what a Saviour who can take a poor lost sinner and lift him from the miry clay and set us free!"  And if you've experienced this in your life you should also want to always tell the story, shouting Glory!  Glory! Glory!  I love this song of testimony and victory because I have personally experienced this.  Have you?  I hope that this be a constant reminder  to you throughout this week of  what Jesus has done for you.

1.    There's a sweet and blessed story
Of the Christ who came from glory,
Just to rescue me from sin and misery;
He in loving-kindness sought me,
And from sin and shame hath brought me,
Hallelujah! Jesus ransomed me. 
Refrain:
Hallelujah! what a Savior,
Who can take a poor, lost sinner,
Lift him from the miry clay and set me free!
I will ever tell the story,
Shouting glory, glory, glory,
Hallelujah! Jesus lifted me. 

2.   From the depth of sin and sadness

To the heights of joy and gladness

Jesus lifted me, in mercy full and free;

With His precious blood He bought me,

When I knew Him not, He sought me,

And in love divine He ransomed me. 

Hallelujah! what a Savior,

Who can take a poor, lost sinner,

Lift him from the miry clay and set me free!

I will ever tell the story,

Shouting glory, glory, glory,

Hallelujah! Jesus lifted me. 

3.   From the throne of heav'nly glory—

Oh, the sweet and blessed story!—

Jesus came to lift the lost in sin and woe

Into liberty all-glorious,

Trophies of His grace victorious,

Evermore rejoicing here below. 

Hallelujah! what a Savior,

Who can take a poor, lost sinner,

Lift him from the miry clay and set me free!

I will ever tell the story,

Shouting glory, glory, glory,

Hallelujah! Jesus lifted me. 

4.   By and by, with joy increasing,

And with gratitude unceasing,

Lifted up with Christ forevermore to be,

I will join the hosts there singing,

In the anthem ever ringing,

To the King of Love who ransomed me. 

Hallelujah! what a Savior,

Who can take a poor, lost sinner,

Lift him from the miry clay and set me free!

I will ever tell the story,

Shouting glory, glory, glory,

Hallelujah! Jesus lifted me. 

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

LO HOW A ROSE E'ER BLOOMING

This Advent hymn is one of my favorites especially when it is sung a cappella. The hymn's origins may be traced back to the late 16th century in a manuscript found in St. Alban's Carthusian monastery in Trier in the original German, "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen." The original stanzas (sources list at least 19 and as many as 23) focused on the events of Luke 1 and 2 and Matthew 2.   There is some speculation about the origin of the image of the rose with some Catholic sources claiming the original focus was upon Mary.   It has been suggested that at a later date Protestants took the hymn, altering its focus from Mary to Jesus, citing Isaiah 11:1, "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.". Some controversy arose as to the original German word in the first line of stanza one: Was it "Ros" (rose) or "Reis" (branch)?   A passage from Isaiah 35:1 suggests a stronger biblical basis for the image: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."   Theodore Baker (1851-1934) provided the most commonly sung translation of stanzas one and two in 1894.  The third stanza is a slightly adapted version of a stanza written in German by Friedrich Layritz (1808-1859) and translated by Harried Reynolds Kraugh (1845-1925) in 1875. Layritz's final stanza expands the metaphor of the Rose image, adding fragrance. He then petitions the "Flower" to "dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere." Of course, this is no ordinary flower and it represents Christ, the Light of the World.   And while we don't know in what season Christ was actually born, we do know that He came to a world that was cold and dark because of sin.  And He came to bring the glorious splendor of light and fragrance to people everywhere who would claim Him as Savior.  And that is the message shared through this hymn over the centuries.  Are you still living in the darkness and coldness of winter night or have you been transformed by what He has done for you?  That is the true importance of Christmas.

(1)   Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!

Of Jesse's lineage coming, as men of old have sung.

It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,

When half spent was the night.

(2)   Isaiah 'twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;

With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.

To show God's love aright, she bore to men a Savior,

When half spent was the night.

(3)   The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright,

How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night.

To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found Him,

As angel heralds said.

(4)   This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,

Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;

True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,

And lightens every load.

(5)   O Savior, Child of Mary, who felt our human woe,

O Savior, King of glory, who dost our weakness know;

Bring us at length we pray, to the bright courts of Heaven,

And to the endless day!

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of America's best known writers, faced some difficult times during his life.  In 1861, his wife tragically died when her dress caught on fire in their home in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  That same year the Civil War broke out, tearing the nation apart.  Two years later, during some of the fiercest days of the conflict, Henry's seventeen year old son, Charley, ran away from home and boarded a train to join President Lincoln's army.  In June of 1863 Charley contracted typhoid fever and malaria and was sent home to recover.  By August he was well enough to return but on November 27, during the battle of New Hope Church, in Virginia, he was shot through the left shoulder.  The bullet nicked his spine and came close to paralyzing him.  Upon hearing the news, Longfellow rushed to Washington to be with his son.  Finding him well enough to travel, he brought him back home to Cambridge.  There he sat by his son's bedside, slowly nursing him back to health.  On Christmas Day Longfellow vented his feelings by penning the words of this week's carol which is best understood against the backdrop of the war.  Two verses are omitted from most hymnals because they speak of the cannons thundering in the South and the hated tearing apart "the hearthstones of a continent."  The author feels like dropping his head in despair but then he hears the Christmas bells and is reminded that "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep."   And while the author was reflecting upon the times in which he lived, I believe the same can be said about the times in which we live.  Trouble, despair and even hatred can be seen all around and at times there seems to be no hope.  But God is not dead.  And while we will never see true peace and goodwill on earth until Christ returns, we can rest in the fact that God does provide personal peace to those who trust Him. And someday He will return and reign.  So as you see or hear the Christmas bells during this season, be reminded that we can know and obey the God who is the only perfect peace giver.

(1)   I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

(2)   I thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along the unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

(3)   And in despair I bowed my head:

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

(4)   Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

(5)   Till, ringing singing, on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Listen to it being sung here.   LISTEN

JESUS, WONDERFUL LORD!

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."  2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV.  In the weeks ahead we will hear and often meditate on the truth of the birth of Christ and what it should mean to us.  I is a marvelous story of the virgin birth of God's only Son who came to earth, was born and lived as a human, to become the sacrifice that would allow us to be reconciled to God.  And part of this amazing story is how the Son willingly left the glory and riches of heaven to come to this earth to be born in a lowly stable.  For our sakes He became poor that we might share in the riches of glory.  And having experienced this our hearts should cry out, "Jesus, Wonderful Lord!"  And that is the title and theme of this week's hymn which also happens to be one of my favorites.  When compared to most of the hymns that we share which were written centuries ago, this one is relatively "new".  It was penned by Paul White, in 1950.  But, unfortunately, that is all I know about this hymn.  I have not been able to find out anything about the author, let alone why it was written. If you have more information, please share it in a comment below. But the three verses do share about the life of Jesus from His birth to His death.  And it shares that He is not only our Redeemer, but also our friend.  And so as we begin the busy Christmas season I believe  this hymn is a fitting reminder of the riches we have because of Him.  May we never lose sight of this truth as we are drawn into all the activity that surrounds us during these holiday weeks.  Truly, Jesus is our Wonderful Lord!

(1)   Born among cattle, in poverty sore,

Living in meekness by Galilee's shore,

Dying in shame as the wicked ones swore:

Jesus, wonderful Lord!

Wonderful, wonderful Jesus!

He is my friend, true to the end;

He gave Himself to redeem me--

Jesus, wonderful Lord!

(2)   Weary, yet He is the world's only rest,

Hungry and thirsty with plenty has blest,

Tempted He promises grace for each test:

Jesus, wonderful Lord!

Wonderful, wonderful Jesus!

He is my friend, true to the end;

He gave Himself to redeem me--

Jesus, wonderful Lord!

(3)   Friend of the friendless, betrayed and denied,

Help of the weak, in Gethsemane cried,

Light of the world, in gross darkness He died:

Jesus, wonderful Lord!

Wonderful, wonderful Jesus!

He is my friend, true to the end;

He gave Himself to redeem me--

Jesus, wonderful Lord!

You can listen to it here.  LISTEN

INFANT HOLY, INFANT LOWLY

I love the Christmas season. But with all the presents to buy, parties to plan, and trees to decorate, the Christmas season seems to fly quickly by. And soon we will realize that Christmas has passed once again. And so often a feeling of sadness creeps in as we put the Christmas decorations away for another year. Yet Christmas gives us a reason to celebrate all year long. A Savior has been born! And because of that, we have a hope that no Christmas tree or party could ever give us. Through the familiar words of "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly," we can remember to rejoice, even after Christmas day has passed. For after recounting the story of Jesus' birth, the carol encourages us, "Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, Praises voicing, greet the morrow."  We need not let disappointment creep in after Christmas. Instead, we can keep rejoicing, free from sorrow, because our Savior has set us free from sin. And as the carol joyfully proclaims, "Christ, the Babe, was born for you!"  The carol is based on a traditional Polish Christmas carol which was translated to English by Edith M. G. Reed.  It is a very simple, short carol, but it conveys the special reminder that Christ did all this for us.  So as we enter another Christmas season may we daily personalize and celebrate this special message - Christ the Babe was born for you.

Infant holy, Infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall;

Oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing:

Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new

Saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a Gospel true.

Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow:

Christ the Babe was born for you.

Listen to it here.   LISTEN